June 16, 2011

A new website tied to Al Qaeda includes a detailed “hit list” of 40 names and 26 photos of powerful Americans, urging terrorists to attack them at home, NBC New York reports. The FBI alerted the people on the list, as well as law enforcement, of the website, which they say “is aspirational and it’s unknown if the threat will progress beyond these discussion forums.” NBC declined to name anyone targeted, but teases that it features not only politicians, but Wall Street firms, think tank members and military contractors — leaders of all kinds “in government, industry and media.” New York State Homeland Security Director Michael Balboni calls the threat “much more specific, individual targeting than we’ve seen before,” but stresses, “You don’t want to scare people.” Too late! [NBC NY]